Task 4

Representation of Disability - Coming Down the Mountain

Explore the Representation of Disability in this Clip - 'Coming Down the Mountain'

Mise en Scene:

During the first shot, we are shown the bedroom of the two brothers, on the left side is Ben, and on the right David. The left side is very colourful with lots of posters and bright toys and bedding, compared to the right side which is very dull and washed out. This highlights that people with a disability like Bens' are seen as childish and immature, in contrast to the stereotype of a 'normal' teenage that suggests that teenagers shouldn’t have childish items and should be more adult. It also shines a positive light on disability as it shows that they are more creative and less likely to be influenced by stereotypes. However, this could also be a negative view of disabled people as they aren’t it shows that they aren't able to grow out of a childish state until they force themselves to do so. This can be shown as out casting disabled people for being different. 

The lighting throughout the clip is all natural light. This is done to show that none of the characters should be getting any better treatment as we are all human. It also removes any aspect of adding importance to a character and puts them all on a equal playing field as adding lighting to a character makes him/her stand out more and can make them seem more important which in this case is not true for any characters.

Camera:

When on camera, unless there is a close up, Ben is in the corner of the screen when he is around his brother and friend at school, this is a done to try and show that Ben and people with disabilities are being rejected from society or ignored. In contrast to this in the opening breakfast scene Ben is in the centre of the frame and is receiving attention from his family, therefore not following what is normal in society.

The camera is mostly level with the character throughout most of the shots that include both Ben and David. This portrays the idea of both characters being equal by displaying them on the same level. There are scenes where the camera could of easily been titled up or down to make the audience look down on a character or look up at him to portray power levels but this isn't done to make sure that Ben and David are seen as equal. 

Editing:

During the scene where David and Ben are leaving school, there are lots of quick cuts to cause confusion for the audience. This is done to make us feel like we are in Ben’s position as even though the scene is focused on David we see how worried Ben is in the background. at the same time in as this there is a random cut to a boy shouting about a can of petrol, followed by the explosion about 20 seconds later, this shows how chaotic ordinary schools can be and how they might not be suited form someone like Ben as he worries throughout the scene compared to the other students who just see this as an ordinary event.

During the first part of the clip, David is narrating over an random clips of animals and neanderthals which shows evolution taking place. The voice over from David mocks disabled people as the people who went ‘wrong’ during this process therefore adding a negative undertone to the start of the scene.

Sound:

In the opening shot, we hear David narrating about how he decided to kill his brother Ben, he also described Ben as a ‘really big potatoes with eye tentacles’. This sets a heavily negative undertone to how David feels about people with disabilities and also shows how some people consider disabled people as not a part of society due to them being 'different'.

Later we are put into Ben's position, at the bus stop the music slows down and a selection of sounds play. Heavy chatter, narration by David, music and diegetic sound for exapmle the bus and Ben's toys and cars. This is done to create a sense chaos and to make the audience feel sorry for Ben as we hear what he hears and this puts us in his position. This makes us feel sorry for him and will make the audience understand what the struggles of living with a disability is like.